Contaminated Sediment News
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
Issue 34 - February 2003
Welcome to the Contaminated Sediments News, a monthly review of recent journal articles, issues in the press, upcoming conferences, and other news. This website replaces the Contaminated Sediments Newsletter, which was published quarterly through the summer of 2000. Items for the CS News are chosen from the results of a detailed search of a number of scientific and technical publication databases, as well as from searches of media publication databases (including newspapers and magazines).
Check back to this site frequently to see each new issue of the Contaminated Sediments News, and visit the CS News Archive to find past issues.
Contents |
Note: The summaries found on this website are based on articles from the press and from peer-reviewed publications, and they represent the opinions of the original authors. The views of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes. Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government.
Guidance Manuals to Support the Assessment of Contaminated Sediments in Freshwater Ecosystems
MacDonald DD, Ingersoll CG. 2002a. A guidance manual to support the assessment of contaminated sediments in freshwater ecosystems. Volume I: An ecosystem-based framework for assessing and managing contaminated sediments, (PDF) EPA-905-B02-001-A, USEPA Great Lakes National Program, Office, Chicago, IL.
MacDonald DD, Ingersoll CG. 2002b. A guidance manual to support the assessment of contaminated sediments in freshwater ecosystems. Volume II: Design and implementation of sediment quality investigations, (PDF) EPA-905-B02-001-B, USEPA Great Lakes National Program Office, Chicago, IL.
Ingersoll CG, MacDonald DD. 2002. A guidance manual to support the assessment of contaminated sediments in freshwater ecosystems. Volume III: Interpretation of the results of sediment quality investigations, (PDF) EPA-905-B02-001-C, USEPA Great Lakes National Program Office, Chicago, IL.
Please contact Chris Ingersoll at chris_ingersoll@usgs.gov (573-876-1819) or Don MacDonald at mesl@island.net (250-729-9623) if you would like to receive paper copy or electronic copy of these reports through regular mail.
- Selective extractions to assess the biogeochemically
relevant fractionation of inorganic mercury in sediments and soils
– In this article, the authors show a new process
for sequential selective extractions (SSEs) for Hg in geological solids.
This study separated mercury into fractions that make 'biogeochemical'
sense, rather than more traditional methods that speciate into specific
compounds. Experiments clarified the impacts of extraction time, solids-to-liquid
ratio, and alternate solvents in natural samples, reference materials,
and pure compounds. HgS (red and black), HgCl2, Hg0, Hg2Cl2, HgSe, HgO,
Hg(II) adsorbed on goethite, Hg-humate, and gold amalgamated Hg were
the compounds tested. Based on these findings, a five-step sequence
of extractions was determined to divide the compounds into biogeochemically
distinct categories, which were identified as F1, F2, F3, F4, and F5
fractions. Depending on the reagent concentrations used, method blanks
and method detection limits were attained for the different analytical
fractions. Precision varied from 2 to 8% for the major fractions in
a sample, increasing to 2-40% for fractions comprising sediments, revealing
that inorganic Hg extracted in the F3 fraction is most strongly associated
with methylation potential. In conclusion, the majority of Hg present
was located either in the F3 or F5 fractions in most natural and sediment
incubation samples.
Source: Bloom, N.S. et al.; Selective extractions to assess the biogeochemically relevant fractionation of inorganic mercury in sediments and soils; Analytica Chimica Acta 479 (2): 233-248, 2003.
- Evaluation of non-chromatographic approaches for speciation of
extractable As(III) and As(V) in environmental solid samples by FI-HGAAS
– In the determination of water-soluble and phosphate-exchangeable
As (III) and As(V) in certified reference materials of coal fly ash
and sediments by FI-HGAAS, non-chromatographic speciation approaches
have been developed. For the screening optimization of the flow injection
manifold, a 2IV6-2 fractional factorial design was used. A simple two-stage
sequential extraction protocol involving deionized water and a phosphate
buffer as extractants was also utilized. Under varied reaction conditions,
determination of both oxidation states of As in the extracts could be
completed following arsine generation. These included: selective determination
of As(III) in citric acid medium or using soft generation conditions;
and determination of total As in each extract using thioglycollic acid
as reaction medium or after pre-reduction of As(V) to As(III) with a
KI+ascorbic acid mixture. Using the difference between the two measurements,
the As(V) content was estimated. Reaction conditions were previously
optimised, and analytical parameters in each reaction medium were determined.
On the whole, the extractable As content was less than 5% in sediment
and fly ash CRMs. Two elements were compared in the process, which included
liquid chromatography together with atomic flourescence spectrometry
with post-column hydride generation.
Source: Carlos Gonzalez, J. et al.; Evaluation of non-chromatographic approaches for speciation of extractable As(III) and As(V) in environmental solid samples by FI-HGAAS; Talanta 59 (3): 525-534, 2003.
- Application of rough sets analysis to identify polluted aquatic
sites based on a battery of biomarkers: a comparison with classical
methods – In order to analyze contaminated
sites that present a threat to the long-term survival of organisms,
the evaluation of toxicological effects at the cellular and molecular
levels in organisms are often applied. Yet, the integration of multiple
measurements on the health status of organisms into a model for site
discrimination is difficult. Rough sets (RS) analysis and classification
trees (CT) were compared with classical multivariate discriminant analysis
(DA). Six biomarkers of effects were used to determine the site classification:
metallothionein levels, lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, levels of lipophosphoproteins
(i.e., vitellins), phagocytosis activity and haemocyte cell viability
on clam (Mya arenaria) populations from the Saguenay River fjord (Quebec,
Canada). In comparison to the classification methods from multivariate
analysis that are commonly utilized in ecotoxicology, rule based methods
have complete independence from data distribution constraints. The study's
results revealed that RS and CT had more enhanced classifications than
DA, not needing strong distributional assumptions. Furthermore, RS presented
classification rules that could distinguish the most important biomarker(s)
for site discrimination. In classifying multivariable ecotoxicological
data, RS and CT were demonstrated as simple and efficient methods. When
freedom from distributional assumptions is needed, this methodology
would be particularly useful.
Source: Chevre, N. et al.; Application of rough sets analysis to identify polluted aquatic sites based on a battery of biomarkers: a comparison with classical methods; Chemosphere 51 (1): 13-23, 2003.
- Estimation of PCDD/F distribution and fluxes in the Venice Lagoon,
Italy: combining measurement and modelling approaches –
To analyze the occurrence of PCDD/Fs in the Venice Lagoon, Italy, available
experimental information was compiled and utilized to calculate fugacities
for the environmental compartments of sediment, suspended particulate
matter (SPM), water and air. This information was then used to estimate
fugacity ratios and evaluate the likely net direction of flux between
media. Results for the bottom sediment included SPM fugacity ratios
for different PCDD/Fs that indicate conditions close to equilibrium,
which was suggestive of the close coupling of SPM with re-suspended
sediment. Depending on the congener and the location within the lagoon,
net flux directions differ, which was shown by sediment/water and the
sediment/air fugacity ratios. Net sediment-water-air movement (i.e.
re-mobilisation/volatilisation) is recommended for the lighter congeners
from the industrial canals, where the highest PCDD/F concentrations
in the lagoon happen. As congener molecular weight decreases, the tendency
to volatilise increases. In contrast, net deposition (air-water-sediment)
seems to happen for the heaviest (hepta- and octa-) substituted PCDD/Fs.
OCDF signifies a marker of the industrial district of the lagoon, declining
in concentration and as a fraction of total PCDD/Fs with increasing
distance. The fugacity-based quantitative water air sediment interaction
(QWASI) mass-balance model was applied to the central part of the lagoon.
A sensitivity analysis classified the key parameters for the determination
of the model output. These included: the sediment active depth, the
sediment re-suspension and deposition rates, and the total input of
PCDD/Fs to the system. The QWASI model also reveals the tendency for
the lighter PCDD/Fs to be discharged from surface sediment to the water
column.
Source: Dalla Valle, M. et al.; Estimation of PCDD/F distribution and fluxes in the Venice Lagoon, Italy: combining measurement and modelling approaches; Chemosphere 51 (7): 603-616, 2003.
- Measurement of arsenic species in marine sediments by high-performance
liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
– While maintaining the two redox states of arsenic,
extraction of sediments with phosphoric acid and hydroxylamine hydrochloride
allowed the measurement of labile arsenic species. Using HPLC-ICP-MS,
the forms and concentrations of arsenic species were measured. In order
to separate arsenic species, a Hamilton PRP X-100 strong anion exchange
column employing an ammonium phosphate buffer was utilized. Recoveries
of sediments spiked with As(V) were quantitative. For sediments spiked
with As(III), four oxic certified sediments and an anoxic sediment provided
recoveries of between 89 and 104%. In applying the method to sediment
samples from the marine Lake Macquarie, NSW, Australia, this process
showed that anoxic sediments can contain high concentrations of As(III),
and two arsenosugars (sulfonate-ribose and sulfate-ribose). Extraction
efficiencies for arsenic varied between 6 and 82%. The type of extraction
procedures used determines the arsenic species that are measured in
sediments. As(III) and arsenosugar concentrations in sediments that
were freeze dried and oxidised were much less than in sediments that
were not freeze dried and when exposure to air was kept to a minimum.
Accordingly, As(V) concentrations were more likely to increase in samples
that were exposed to air.
Source: Ellwood, M. J., and W.A. Maher; Measurement of arsenic species in marine sediments by high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry; Analytica Chimica Acta 477 (2): 279-291, 2003.
- Ecotoxicological problems associated with contaminated sites
– Contaminated sites present considerable environmental
hazards for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems because they are important
sources of pollution and may result in ecotoxicological impacts. Although
acute effects occur at severely contaminated sites, the fundamental
problem, however, lies in the potential for long-term chronic effects.
From the molecular to the ecosystem level, ecotoxicological effects
occur at all levels of the biological organization, which may impact
the entire ecosystem, in its function and structure, as well as certain
organisms. Critical properties, such as toxicity, high environmental
persistence, often high mobility prone to contamination of groundwater,
and high lipophilicity resulting in bioaccumulation in food webs, are
shared in contaminants at large contaminated sites. Contaminants present
at polluted sites occur as mixtures, which impacts the interactions
between individual compounds. A key factor that is responsible for ecotoxicological
impacts of contaminants is bioavailability. The bioavailable fraction
produces ecotoxicological effects, which was illustrated with organotin
compounds. The most toxic pollutants found to impact aquatic life are
organotins. Organotins continue to be used in antifouling paints on
large ships, so that widespread contamination of harbor sediments happens
globally. In lake sediments, even after a long period, tributyl- and
triphenyltin are constant and bioavailable to biota. Organotins bioavailability
depends on the pH and organic matter in sediment and content. Remobilization
occurs through disturbance and dredging. At contaminated sites, the
occurrence and extent of ecotoxicity is of concern and OECD or WET tests
are used to evaluate ecotoxicity and risk assessment. These assays,
however, are often expensive, laborious, and sometimes not sensitive
enough. This study presents the use of rapid and inexpensive in vitro
systems, such as fish cell lines for the evaluation of sediments and
landfill leachates, which were contaminated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs). The results show the application of cytotoxicity as a measure
for acute toxicity and the induction of cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) as
a biomarker of exposure and impacts, which can be used for hazard and
risk assessment. Future research is needed to evaluate the long-term
chronic ecotoxicological effects of single compounds and mixtures on
soil and aquatic biota at contaminated sites.
Source: Fent, K.; Ecotoxicological problems associated with contaminated sites; Toxicology Letters, In Press, 2003.
- Source apportionment of PAHs in dated sediments from the Black
River, Ohio – Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs) from coke ovens of a U.S. Steel Corporation Plant have contaminated
Black River, OH. The PAH levels, however, have been reduced considerably
with the closing of a coking plant in 1983 and environmental dredging
of the sediments during 1989 and 1990. Using chemical mass balance modeling,
this study quantifies the decrease and reflects on source apportionment
of PAHs in Black River sediments. In 1998, five vibra cores were collected
and dated and examined for 18 PAHs. PAH maxima happened in 1949, 1969,
in agreement with regional historical inputs and in 1991 due to remediation.
Possible sources include coke oven emissions (CO), highway dust (HWY),
and wood burning (WB). Due to the exposure and redistribution of older
contaminated sediments during dredging, the CO source total is maximal
in 1954 and again in 1992-1994 but decreases afterwards. After closure
of the cooking plant, there is minimal CO content in 1985. The HWY contribution
(2-86%) is high during 1969-1988, increasing again after 1993. The WB
source is less than 23%, revealing a minimum 2% around 1979. In the
sediment of phenanthrene (PhA), there is evidence of aerobic biodegradation
or photolysis.
Source: Gu, S.H. et al.; Source apportionment of PAHs in dated sediments from the Black River, Ohio; Water Research, In Press, 2003.
- Responses in sediment bioassays used in the Netherlands: can
observed toxicity be explained by routinely monitored priority pollutants?
– Standard and new methods of bioassays were used to
identify the cause of toxicity in sediments and suspended matter in
a large group of samples taken at various locations throughout the Netherlands.
The standard bioassays used the bacterium Vibrio fisheri, the
rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus, and the anostracan Thamnocephalus
platyurus. Chronic standard bioassays used the water flea Daphnia
magna and larvae of the midge Chironomus riparius. Some novel bioassays
were also developed for this study. In observations of standard bioassays
with sediments from polluted sediments, most toxic effects could be
somewhat explained by toxic concentrations of known persistant priority
pollutants, mainly heavy metals and occasionally polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons. During testing, ammonia toxicity was a confounding factor
in some of the samples. In almost all bioassays of suspended solids
from the Meuse River at Eijsden, the solids were moderately to highly
toxic, which was associated with the combination of heavy metals, PAHs,
and ammonia. In two Lake Ijessel locations with no history of persistent
pollution, moderate and strong effects were detected in invertebrate
tests. These results were thought to be caused by agricultural run-off
of pesticides, which are not usually measured in sediments. Some effects
on V. fischeri in canals and a small stream could not be explained with
standard chemical analysis, but these impacts were interpreted as having
association with the outlets of POTWs and industrial effluents. Phtalates,
decanes, cosanes, and fragrances were found in some sediment samples
that had insignificant effects on V. fisheri, D. magna,
and C. riparius.
Source: Lahr, Joost et al.; Responses in sediment bioassays used in the Netherlands: can observed toxicity be explained by routinely monitored priority pollutants?; Water Research, In Press.
- Bioaccumulation and critical
body residue of PAHs in the amphipod, Diporeia spp.: additional
evidence to support toxicity additivity for PAH mixtures
– When exposed as congener mixtures, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs) are thought to act additively. Recent efforts to establish a
sum PAH guidance for sediment-associated PAH toxicity used examinations
of additive internal concentrations at the site of toxic action as the
basis. This study analyzed the toxicity of numerous PAH congeners (on
a body residue basis) in Diporeia spp. These toxicity values
were evaluated by looking at the previously established LR50 value for
a PAH mixture based on the molar sum of PAH congeners. The study also
showed similar LR50 values for individual PAH congeners. These results
confirm the argument that the PAHs act at the same molar concentration
whether present as individual compounds or in a mixture. Aqueous exposures
were run for 28 days; the water was exchanged daily in order to sustain
the exposure concentration. Between water exchanges across compounds,
the concentration in the exposures declined by an average of 22%, ranging
from 11% to 32%. Using time-weighted-average (TWA) and time-variable
water concentrations, the toxicokinetics were established. Between these
two source functions, the toxicokinetics were not statistically distinct.
Toxicity was confirmed for mortality, immobility (failure to swim on
prodding), on TWA water concentration, and a body residue basis.
Source: Landrum, Peter et al.; Bioaccumulation and critical body residue of PAHs in the amphipod, Diporeia spp.: additional evidence to support toxicity additivity for PAH mixtures; Chemosphere 51 (6): 481-489, 2003.
- Integrated use of biomarkers
(acetylcholinesterase and antioxidant enzymes activities) in Mytilus
galloprovincialis and Mullus barbatus in an Italian coastal
marine area – Biomarkers are a relatively new
monitoring tool used to analyze the biological effects of chemical pollutants
in marine organisms. The purpose of this study was the field application
of the integrated use of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and antioxidant
enzymes (catalase--CAT, glutathione peroxidase--GSH-Pz) for detecting
the possible exposure/effect generated by chemical pollutants in native
marine organisms from a coastal marine area. An area off the coast of
Salento Peninsula (Italy) was studied because it has a coastline of
high environmental value and has urban and agricultural land use. Eight
sampling stations were chosen, including four not urbanized areas considered
"uncontaminated" controls and four areas clearly exposed to
anthropogenic impact. The bioindicator species that were studied: a
sessile invertebrate (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and a benthic
teleost fish (Mullus barbatus). AChE activity in M. galloprovincialis
showed significant differences among places; the minimum values monitored
were 50% reduced with respect to the maximum found. The leaching of
pesticides into the sea from the agricultural lands accounted for the
reduction in AChE activity detected in two control stations. Moreover,
the reduction of the enzymatic activity seen in an industrialized and
harbour area can explain the inhibition of AChE activity by heavy metals
besides pesticides. In M. galloprocincialis, AChE activity revealed
an important inverse correlation with catalase activity but not with
glutathione peroxidase that did not significantly change in animals
sampled from the eight stations. Also in M. barbatus, AChE activity
showed significant variations among places; it was inversely correlated
with liver GSH-Px activity, but not with catalase activity, which did
not reveal any considerable variation in animals sampled in the different
stations. Therefore, this study concluded that the integrated use of
AChE and antioxidant enzymes (catalase or glutathione peroxidase) in
M. galloprovincialis and M. barbatus can find a functional
application within the framework of marine coastal environment monitoring
programs for detecting the possible exposure/impact brought on by chemical
pollutants, including pesticides, on living marine organisms.
Source: Lionetto, M.G. et al.; Integrated use of biomarkers (acetylcholinesterase and antioxidant enzymes activities) in Mytilus galloprovincialis and Mullus barbatus in an Italian coastal marine area; Marine Pollution Bulletin 46 (3): 324-330, 2003.
- Sediment toxicity tests
using benthic marine microalgae Cylindrotheca closterium (Ehremberg)
Lewin and Reimann (Bacillaciophyceae) –
Using microalgae, the marine benthic pennate noncolonial diatom (Cylindrotheca
closterium), a new process for sediment toxicity testing has been
developed. The microalgae displayed good growth rate during the experimental
period, even when low enriched media were used. Using microalgal growth
inhibition as the endpoint, sediment spiked with heavy metals [cadmium
(Cd), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb)] was applied to establish the EC50
values. Cd, Cu, and Pb, previously spiked on experimental sediment,
were separately assayed in toxicity tests. The study also examined the
influence of sediment granulometry on the growth of microalgal population.
The authors found that the growth of the microalgal population on media
containing sediment with a ratio of sand-size:silt size particles of
9:1 did not vary from optimal growth (present in media containing 100%
sand-sized sediment). Due to its sensitivity and fast growth even in
poorly enriched media, the diatom C. closterium was established
as a suitable organism for sediment toxicity tests.
Source: Moreno-Garrido, I. et al.; Sediment toxicity tests using benthic marine microalgae Cylindrotheca closterium (Ehremberg) Lewin and Reimann (Bacillaciophyceae); Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, In Press, 2003.
- Toxicokinetics, toxicity,
and lethal body residues of two chlorophenols in the oligochaete worm,
Lumbriculus variegatus, in different sediments
– In a set of experiments, bioavailability, toxicokinetics, and
toxicity (LC50) of water- and sediment-associated 2,4,5-trichlorophenol
(2,4,5-TCP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) were evaluated in Lumbriculus
variegatus (Muller). By measuring the lethal body residues
(LBR50), a critical body residue approach was utilized. Freshwater and
three different sediments with different sediment organic carbon (SOC)
concentrations were applied as exposure media. SOC was varied because
the bioavailability of both chlorophenols is reduced by SOC. The uptake
rates are also affected by SOC with sediment SOC levels of 6.9%, compared
to SOC levels of 0.5%; the uptake rate of 2,4,5-TCP decreased by 81%,
and the uptake rate of PCP decreased by 91%. To control the bioavailability,
SOC was found to be an important factor; after the carbon normalisation,
the variation between the sediments had diminished. The LBR50 values
were almost the same in freshwater and sediments, signifying the usefulness
of this process for accurate, and more comparable, measurement of toxicity
of chemicals with similar modes of toxic action in changing conditions.
In conclusion, L. variegatus showed a dose-response sediment
avoidance behavior, but the PCP tissue concentrations were not influenced
by this behavior.
Source: Nikkila, A. et al.; Toxicokinetics, toxicity, and lethal body residue of two chlorophenols in the oligochaete worm, Lumbriculus variegatus, in different sediments; Chemosphere 51 (1): 35-46, 2003.
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Water and sediment toxicity assessment by use of behaviourial responses of medicinal leeches – Behavior is a sensitive indicator of chemically induced stress and pathology in aquatic organisms. Scarcity of leeches limits ecotoxicological investigations on medicinal leeches in natural waters. The authors used artificially bred medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis L.) of two ages: young (1-2 weeks old) and adult leeches (1 year old). Leeches were exposed to water from three sources: (1) waters of Lake Drukshiai, a cooling waterbody for the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, (2) Nemunas River sediments, and (3) a solution of heavy metal model mixture (HMMM). The behavioral responses of the leeches were analyzed for the following: mobility (number of moving individuals within certain periods of time), avoidance response (number of individuals escaping the tested water or sediments), changes in body shape (contractions of some muscles, abnormal position of suckers), and feeding activity (longevity of attachment process, interruptions of feeding bouts, size of blood meal). In waters from Lake Drukshiai, mobility of young leeches increased, compared to that of the adult leeches, which showed no variation. In young leeches exposed to water from Lake Drukshiai and in adult animals exposed to all three sources, avoidance response, as well as impaired feeding activity (prolonged attachment process or completely suppressed attachment reflex, decreased size of blood meal), was detected. Avoidance responses were found to be a good indicator of acute toxicity and, therefore, can function as a rapid system for water and sediment pollution assessment. Impaired feeding activity was found after 1-3 week exposure, which may be useful in assessing a chronic toxicity of pollution. In conclusion, medicinal leeches can be used as a test organism in ecotoxicity studies, due to its sensitivity, simplicity of measured indices and ease of laboratory maintenance.
Source: Petrauskiene, L.; Water and sediment toxicity assessment by use of behaviourial responses of medicinal leeches; Environment International 28 (8): 729-736, 2003.
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Occurrence of alkylphenol polyethoxylates in the St. Lawrence River and their bioconcentration by mussels (Elliptio complanata) – The authors evaluated the presence of alkylphenol polyethoxylates (APnEO) in the St. Lawrence River and bioconcentration by mussels (Elliptio complanata). Analyses were completed on 4-tert-octylphenol, 4-n-nonylphenol, nonylphenol polyethoxylates, nonylphenol-mono and di-ethoxycarboxylic acids, and octylphenol-mono and di-ethoxycarboxylic acids from surface water, municipal effluents, sediments, and mussels. Mussels (Elliptio complanata) from a reference lake were caged and submerged for 62 days at two sites in the St. Lawrence River, both upstream and downstream of a municipal wastewater treatment plant's outfall. Many of the target chemicals were present in water at parts per trillion (ppt) and parts per billion (ppb) levels. Some of the target chemicals reached parts per million (ppm) levels in sediments and mussels. Those matrices sampled downstream had higher concentrations of contaminants than those matrices sampled at the upstream site, especially in sediments. A small, but not significant, bioconcentration of particular APnEO in the mussels was more obvious at the downstream site than at the upstream site.
Source: Sabik, H. et al.; Occurrence of alkylphenol polyethoxylates in the St. Lawrence River and their bioconcentration by mussels (Elliptio complanata); Chemosphere 51 (5): 349-356, 2003.
Other Journal Titles of Interest
- Evaluation of triclosan and biphenylol in marine sediments
and urban wastewaters by pressurized liquid extraction and solid phase
extraction followed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry and liquid
chromatography mass spectrometry. Aguera, Ana; Amadeo R. Fernandez-Alba;
Luis Piedra; Milagros Mezcua; and M. Jose Gomez. Analytica Chimica
Acta, In Press, 2003.
- Comparisons of coarse and fine versions of two carbons for reducing
the bioavailabilities of sediment-bound hydrophobic organic contaminants.
Lebo, J.A.; J.N. Huckins; J.D. Petty; W.L. Cranor; and K.T. Ho. Chemosphere
50 (10): 1309-1317, 2003.
- Harmonisation of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) analyses
for ecotoxicological interpretations of southeast Asian environmental
media: what's the problem? Martin, Michael; Bruce J. Richardson;
and Paul K.S. Lam. Marine Pollution Bulletin 46 (2): 159-170, 2003.
- Asia-Pacific mussel watch: monitoring contamination of persistent organochlorine compounds in coastal waters of Asian countries. Monirith, In; Daisuke Ueno; Shin Takahashi; Haruhiko Nakata; Agus Sudaryanto; Annamalai Subramanian; Subramanian Karuppiah; Ahmad Ismail; Muswerry Muchtar; and Jinshu Zheng. Marine Pollution Bulletin 46 (3): 281-300, 2003.
Upcoming Events and Conferences
- Environmental Stability of Chemicals in Sediments Workshop. This workshop occurs April 8-10 in San Diego, CA. For more information, contact Susan Vasich at 313-465-7978 or smv@honigman.com; or look at the website: http://www.smwg.org/.
- Coastal Sediments 2003. This conference
occurs May 18-23 in Clearwater Beach, FL. Coastal Sediments '03 is a
multi-disciplinary international conference convened for researchers
and practitioners to discuss science and engineering issues of coastal
sediment processes. Visit the website for more information: http://www.coastalsediments.net/.
- 2nd International Symposium on Contaminated Sediments. This conference is May 26-28 in Quebec City, Canada. Conference is subtitled Characterization, Evaluation, Mitigation/Restoration, Management Strategy, and Performance. For more information, contact Helene Tremblay at 418-656-2193; e-mail: SCS2003@ggl.ulaval.ca or visit the conference website.
- In-Situ Contaminated Sediment Capping Workshop.
This workshop is from May 12-14 in Cincinnati, OH. A national workshop
to review the science, technology and applications of capping at contaminated
sediment sites, examine lessons learned, and discuss future directions.
For further information, contact Ana Montes, Electrical Power Research
Institute (EPRI) at 650-855-2165. Web site: www.epri.com/default.asp
and click on Events Calendar.
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North American Benthological Society's Annual Meeting. This meeting runs from May 27-31 in Athens, GA. Sessions at the conference will present case studies dealing with ecotoxicology and bioassessment. For more information, contact Anne Yount, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, 204 Lumpkin House, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30624. Website: www.benthos.org/Meeting/nabs2003/programschedule.htm.
- In Situ and On-Site Bioremeditation. This conference happens in Orlando, FL, June 2-5. For more information, contact the Conference Group at 800-783-6338 or 614-424-5461; e-mail: info@confgroupinc.com; or see the website: http://www.battelle.org/biosymp.
- International Association for Great Lakes Research Global Threats to Large Lakes: Managing in an Environment of Instability and Unpredictability. The conference occurs June 22-26 in Chicago, IL. For more information, contact Marc Tuchman at the EPA’s Great Lakes National Program Office at 312-353-1369 or email at tuchman.marc@epa.gov.
- Second International Conference on the Remediation
of Contaminated Sediments - The Second International Sediment
Remediation Conference will be held in September 30th through October
3rd in Venice, Italy. Organizers say the city is an ideal setting for
a conference on this topic because of the sediments remediation efforts
being exerted there by the local, regional, and national governments.
For more information, contact the Conference Group at 800-783-6338 (U.S.
and Canada) or 614-488-2030; e-mail: info@confgroupinc.com;
or visit the Sediment
Remediation Conference website.
- Contaminated Soils, Sediments, and Water. The conference is
from October 20-23 in Amherst, MA. For more information, contact Denise
Leonard at 413-545-1239 or info@UMassSoils.com.
Web site: www.umasssoils.com.
- SETAC 24th Annual Meeting: Science Without Borders: Developing
Solutions for Global Environmental Challenges. This meeting takes
place November 8-13 in Austin, TX. This conference supports efforts
scientists and engineers to work together to develop solutions to global
problems. Topics including the factors influencing bioavailability and
sediment chemistry will be addressed. For more information, contact
SETAC North America, 1010 North 12th Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32501. Phone:
850-469-1500; web site: http://setac.org/austin.html.
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Great Lakes Water Quality Board Created as part of the International
Joint Committee under the Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality. The
board publishes studies conducted on contaminated sediment and its cleanup
in the Great Lakes. http://www.ijc.org/boards/wqb/
Internation Association for Great Lakes Research Sponsors research
studies on the Great Lakes and other large lakes of the world. The site
has a searchable database containing many articles on contaminated sediments.
http://www.iaglr.org/
The Great Lakes Research Consortium is an organization of sixteen colleges and universities in New York, with nine affiliate campuses in Ontario, dedicated to collaborative research and education on the Great lakes. The consortium has funded several research studies on contaminated sediments in the Great Lakes. http://www.esf.edu/glrc/about.htm
The Housatonic River Restoration This web site provides information on the cleanup of PCBs from the Housatonic River. http://www.restorehousatonic.com/
Environmental Technology Verification The Verification program has researched the claims of companies that have developed new environmental technologies. The Program Graduates section of this web site lists companies who's technology performance claims have been validated. http://www.etvcanada.com/